Rifle raffle at elementary school irks some parents

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LUCAMA, N.C. (WTVR) -- Some parents are angry because their children’s public elementary school North Carolina is raffling off a rifle to raise money.

Like many schools, Lucama Elementary School in Wilson County is suffering from budget cuts, so it's holding a fundraiser in a couple of weeks and a local hunting conservation group decided to jump in.

"Our guys are simply trying to help the kids in the community with the means they have available," said Delta Waterfowl’s Chris Williams.

WCNC reports others think raffling off a muzzle-loading gun does not make sense.

"We have enough issues with guns in the schools. We don't need to do a raffle with elementary school kids," said Lena Collier.

Delta Waterfowl said the school fundraiser is merely going to be the recipient of the funds raised through the raffling of the shotgun.

The school system said it is OK with the raffle as long as no children sell or buy tickets -- and that the gun is not brought to school property.

"We fully support the decision that was made and just really hope it makes a lot of money for the school," said Whitley, a representative for the school system. "This is a community that clearly understands the distinction between, you know, responsible gun ownership and gun violence."

Delta Waterfowl originally planned to sell only 20 raffle tickets for the gun. However, there has been so much interest, hundreds of $5 tickets have been sold.

No one will be sure the final sale total until the raffle sends in two weeks.